Another Resource for Friends and Family Members Dealing with a Loved One’s Addiction

A Crossroads for Women staff member recently passed on some information about another resource for friends and family members who have a loved one struggling with addiction. The 12-step based program is called Families Anonymous. According to the Families Anonymous website, it is “a group of concerned relatives and friends whose lives have been adversely affected by a loved one’s addiction to alcohol or drugs.” The group has regular meetings around the country much like Al-anon, AA or NA. Like the others, meetings are free and only first names are used. In Maine, you can find meetings in Westbrook, Houlton and Caribou. You can also participate in online meetings.

While support groups like Al-anon and Families Anonymous can be extremely helpful for friends and family members, others find that they just need to learn more about their loved one’s addiction and how to handle it. After all, addiction effects everyone around the person.

Crossroads for Women, in Maine, offers an educational series for those friends and family members dealing with a loved one’s addiction. The 4-week series is for adults, male and female, who are affected by another’s substance abuse problem. Crossroads for Women’s intention is to provide friends and family members a safe, comfortable environment in which they can listen, learn and find answers for themselves. Topics covered include the basics of addiction and its effects on everyone around the addicted person, dos and don’ts and recovery for the entire family. The series is held on Tuesday evenings, 6:00pm – 7:30pm, at Crossroads for Women’s outpatient office in Portland, Maine. The next series runs from November 6 – November 27.

Crossroads is CARF accredited, a member of the National Association of Addiction Treatment Providers, and is committed to providing high quality care to women, men, and families struggling with substance use and mental health disorders.